Method for Forming Multi-Layered Binary Oxide Film for Use in Resistance Random Access Memory

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for forming a multi-layered binary oxide film for ReRAM. The method includes forming a lower electrode layer on a substrate; forming a metal layer on the lower electrode layer in a vacuum atmosphere; oxidizing the metal layer into a binary oxide film in a vacuum atmosphere; repeating the steps of forming and oxidizing the metal layer to form a desired thickness of the multi-layered binary oxide film; and forming an upper electrode layer on the multi-layered film. The method allows a nonvolatile memory device more efficient than the conventional perovskite structure in a simple process without concerns for surface contamination since the metal layer is formed and oxidized in a vacuum atmosphere.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a method for growing a multi-layered binary oxidation film for use in a Resistance Random Access Memory (ReRAM), and more particularly, a method for growing a binary oxidation film with excellent uniformity and reproducibility.

BACKGROUND ART

With rapid developments in mobile, digital information communication and electronic industries, researches on devices based on the conventional charge control approach are expected to face limitations in several years. In other words, there has been a demand for a memory device based on a new concept and function rather than on the concept of the conventional electronic charge devices which have been applied for most of the twentieth century.

There is a possibility that the current PC-centered market structure will be shifted to a non-PC-centered one, which means capacity expansion of memories of major information apparatuses. In this regard, there is a need for developing an original technology for the next-generation, large-capacity, extra low-power memory device.

Flash memory, which is the most representative of nonvolatile memory, requires high operational voltage to write or erase data. Therefore, in case when the gate length is decreased to 65 nm or less, adjacent cells may be operated, thus causing confusion between cells, which raises a question whether the actual realization is possible. In addition, sufficient device margin is not ensured when operated at low voltage required for low-power consumption. Therefore, there is a need for rearch on the next-generation nonvolatile memory.

Resistance Random Access Memory (hereinafter, referred to as 'ReRAM ) is a nonvolatile memory device based on drastic resistance change in a thin film with particular voltage applied to the thin film. Other nonvolatile memories have limitations. For example, DRAM is limited in scale-down (decrease in the gate length), FRAM is unstable in its material, flash memory exhibits low speed and high power consumption, and MRAM entails a complex process, multi-layer structure and small read/write margin.

On the other hand, ReRAM has excellent characteristics such as infinite recording and reproduction, operability at high temperature, and nonvolatile characteristics ensuring safety of data. Also, it can operate at high speed of 10 to 20 ns (nanoseconds) and can achieve high integration and speed since it is a single-film structure in terms of process. It is manufactured basically as a single-layer structure, which can be conducted by CMOS and integration processes, thereby minimizing energy consumption.

Korean Patent Application No. 2004-0080999 discloses a method of applying a PCMO thin film for use in ReRAM. The application method includes forming a barrier layer in a thickness of 10 to 100 nm, depositing a layer of iridium on the barrier layer, spin coating a layer of PCMO (Pr_(0.7)Ca_(0.3)MnO₃) on the iridium, baking the PCMO and substrate in a three-step baking process, post-baking annealing the substrate and the PCMO in a RTP chamber, repeating the spin coating, baking and annealing steps until the PCMO has a desired thickness, annealing the substrate and PCMO, and depositing a top electrode and complete the ReRAM device.

Such a manufacturing process of the PCMO thin film entails a complicated process, and transfer from vacuum to atmospheric conditions, which may affect the characteristics of ReRAM due to oxidation and surface contamination. Thus, the method is difficult to achieve excellent reproducibility and to maintain a uniform composition of PCMO material.

Therefore, there has been a demand for a method that is simple and practical for various applications and is capable of manufacturing a nonvolatile memory device without potential surface contamination.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems of the prior art and therefore an object of certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method for forming an oxidation film for use in a ReRAM in a simple process without a problem of surface contamination.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the invention for realizing the object, there is provided a method for forming a multi-layered binary oxide film for use in a resistance random access memory, comprising steps of:

(i) forming a lower electrode layer on a substrate;

(ii) forming a metal layer on the lower electrode layer in a vacuum atmosphere;

(iii) oxidizing the metal layer into a binary oxide film in a vacuum atmosphere;

(iv) repeating the steps (ii) and (iii) to form a desired thickness of multi-layered binary oxide film; and

(v) forming an upper electrode layer on the multi-layered binary oxide film.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the lower electrode layer and the upper electrode layer is made of one selected from a group consisting of Pt, Au, Al, Cu, Ti and alloys thereof. It is preferable that the metal layer is made of one selected from a group consisting of Al, Co, Ni, Fe, Ta, Ti, Au, Pt, Ag and alloys thereof. Preferably, the metal layer has a thickness ranging from 5 to 100 Å and more preferably, 0˜50 Å

In the present invention, the step (iii) comprises remote oxidation with 0% to 90% of Ar gas and 10% to 100% of O₂ gas, with RF plasma at an output of 30 W to 200 W.

It is preferable that the multi-layered binary oxidation film is annealed at a temperature ranging from 100° C. to 1000° C. for 1 minute to 24 hours.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, a metal layer is formed and oxidized in a vacuum atmosphere, and thus a binary oxide film can be formed in multi-layers in a simple process without potential surface contamination. The multi-layered binary oxide film can be applied to a nonvolatile memory device such as a resistance random access memory to realize a nonvolatile memory device that is more efficient than the conventional Perovskite structure and has excellent reproducibility and is effective for mass production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for growing a multi-layered binary oxidation film according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary apparatus for remote oxidation in the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates resistance change in a non-volatile memory, in which (a) is a graph showing the characteristics of the memory according to the present invention, and (b) is a graph showing the characteristics of the conventional memory.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions are exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals are used throughout to designate the same or similar components.

The present invention aims to form a metal layer and binary oxide film in a vacuum atmosphere thereby to obtain a ReRAM. According to the invention, since the metal layer is formed and oxidized in a vacuum atmosphere, the binary oxide film is not exposed to an atmospheric condition, thus without potential surface contamination. It is preferable to conduct oxidation process by remote oxidation in the present invention.

The steps of forming a multi-layered film will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, a substrate 11 is prepared (see FIG. 1( a)).

The substrate 11 can be any kind that is typically applied to a semiconductor memory device and is not limited to a particular kind. The most representative example is a Si substrate including a silicon dioxide substrate and a poly silicon substrate.

Then a lower electrode layer 12 is formed on the prepared substrate 11 (see FIG. 1( b)).

The electrode layer is made of one selected from a group consisting of Pt, Au, Al, Cu, Ti and alloys thereof, which however does not limit the present invention. It is preferable that the electrode layer has a thickness of about 5 nm to 500 nm depending on the kind of electrode material. The lower electrode layer can be formed by plating or deposition.

Then, a metal layer 13 is formed on the lower electrode layer 12 (see FIG. 1( c)).

A method for forming a metal layer 13 in a vacuum atmosphere is used to form the metal layer 13. That is, methods of depositing and growing a metal layer in a vacuum atmosphere can be adopted, and such methods include Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), etc. Any type of metal layer suitable for ReRAM can be adopted. The most representative example of metal layer can be made of one selected from a group consisting of Al, Co, Ni, Fe, Ta, Ti, Au, Pt, Ag and alloys thereof, which however does not limit the present invention. It is preferable that the metal layer has a thickness of 5 Å to 100 Å. Too large a thickness of the metal layer renders the later oxidation process difficult. Too small a thickness of the metal layer can affect the characteristics of the device. More preferably, the metal layer has a thickness of 10 Å to 50 Å, and most preferably, the metal layer has a thickness of 20 Å to 40 Å.

The metal layer 13 formed on the substrate 11 is oxidized into a binary oxide film 13′ in a vacuum atmosphere (see FIG. 1( d)). Any kind of oxidation process suitable for oxidizing a metal layer in a vacuum atmosphere can be adopted. The most preferable example is remote oxidation.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process of applying remote oxidation. In remote oxidation, O₂ gas is flown to collide into a coil 21 with remote plasma source 22 running therethrough to be ionized, entering the chamber 23 to form oxygen plasma. The metal layer 13 is oxidized by this oxygen plasma. Compared with a general oxidation method, remote oxidation has advantages in that it facilitates control of the thickness of the metal layer, and control of the composition of the oxide film. It is preferable that the entire surfaces of the metal layer are oxidized including its thickness direction.

According to the present invention, remote oxidation can be conducted with O₂ gas. More preferably, a predetermined amount of Ar gas is mixed with O₂gas. The mix ratio is O₂ gas: 10-100% to Ar gas: 0-90%. More preferably, the ratio is O₂ gas: 50-80% to Ar gas: 20-50% for stable ionization of O₂.

For remote oxidation, RF can be adopted as the remote plasma source according to the present invention. The output range of the RF can be 30 W to 200 W and the most preferable output range is 30 W to 100 W in order to facilitate ionization of the gas and prevent damage to the film.

The step of forming the metal layer (FIG. 1( c)) and the step of oxidizing the metal layer (FIG. 1( d)) are repeated until a desired thickness of a multi-layered binary oxide film (FIG. 1( e)) is obtained. Each of the steps of forming and oxidizing the metal layer can be conducted once. Also as shown in FIG. 1( e), the steps can be repeated at least two times each to form a multi-layered structure. In the present invention, the steps of forming the metal layer and oxidizing the metal layer can be conducted in the same chamber. Alternatively, the steps can be conducted in different chambers while transfer between the chambers is conducted in a vacuum condition.

Then, the substrate with the binary oxide film formed thereon as described above is annealed. It is preferable that annealing is conducted at a temperature ranging from 100° C. to 1000° C. in a vacuum or oxygen atmosphere for about 1 minute to 24 hours.

Preferably, the substrate with the binary oxide film is annealed at a temperature ranging from 500° C. to 700° C. for 30 minutes to 3 hours in order to deliver sufficient amount of heat energy needed for rearrangement of lattice in the film.

An upper electrode layer (pattern) is formed on the annealed multi-layered binary oxide film (FIG. 2( f)). The upper electrode layer is made of one selected from a group consisting of Pt, Au, Al, Cu, Ti and alloys thereof, which however does not limit the present invention.

It is preferable that the upper electrode layer has a thickness of 5 nm to 500 nm. The upper electrode layer can be formed by plating, etc. and can be formed in a vacuum atmosphere. The upper electrode layer is formed in patterns using a shadow mask or dry etching processes.

The manufactured substrate can additionally be baked and post-annealed if necessary.

The multi-layered binary oxide film manufactured according to the present invention can be applied to a nonvolatile memory device. Such a memory device demonstrates low power consumption, infinite recording/reproduction, and quick rebooting of the PC and safe maintenance of a large capacity of data with its nonvolatile characteristics.

MODES FOR THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be explained in greater detail through an example.

EXAMPLE 1

An Al thin film was grown in a thickness of 30 Å on a Pt lower electrode layer formed on a Si substrate. Using the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, Ar gas and O₂ gas were used at the ratio of 50%:50% with RF of about 60 W to be ionized, thereby oxidizing the Al thin film.

Repeating these growing and oxidizing steps of the Al thin film for 7 times to form an AlO_(x) multi-layered thin film in a thickness of 210 Å. This multi-layered thin film was annealed in a vacuum condition at about 500° C. for about 30 minutes. After annealing, a Pt electrode layer was formed on the multi-layered thin film. Resistance change rate of 18000% was measured in the thin film and shown in FIG. 3( a).

On the other hand, an AlO_(x) binary oxidized substance was grown in a thickness of 210 Å on a Pt lower electrode layer, and the results are shown in FIG. 3( b).

As seen in FIGS. 3( a) and (b), the set voltage was improved from 3.7V with the conventional AlOx thin film to 1.65V with the present invention and the reset voltage was improved from 1.25 with the conventional AlOx thin film to 0.85 with the present invention.

While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

For example, the metal layer is made of Al in certain embodiments of the invention, but can also be made of one selected from a group consisting of Co, Ni, Fe, Ta, Ti, Au, Pt and Ag. 

1. A method for forming a multi-layered binary oxide film for use in a resistance random access memory, comprising steps of: (i) forming a lower electrode layer on a substrate; (ii) forming a metal layer on the lower electrode layer in a vacuum atmosphere; (iii) oxidizing the metal layer into a binary oxide film in a vacuum atmosphere; (iv) repeating the steps (ii) and (iii) to form a desired thickness of multi-layered binary oxide film; and (v) forming an upper electrode layer on the multi-layered binary oxide film.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal layer is made of one selected from a group consisting of Al, Co, Ni, Fe, Ta, Ti, Au, Pt, Ag and alloys thereof.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal layer has a thicknes ranging from 5 Å to 100 Å.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the metal layer has a thickness ranging from 10 Å to 50 Å.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step (iii) comprises remote oxidation.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step (iii) is conducted with 0% to 90% of Ar gas and 10% to 100% of O₂ gas.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step (iii) is conducted with RF plasma at an output of 30 W to 100 W.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the multi-layered binary oxidation film is annealed at a temperature ranging from 100° C. to 1000° C. for 1 minute to 24 hours. 